Andrew Keith is stepping down from Selfridges âto pursue new ventures,â the iconic UK department store chain said Tuesday.
Keith, who previously revitalised Hong Kongâs Lane Crawford department store, joined Selfridges in early 2021 as managing director under Anne Pitcher during the lead-up to a blockbuster sale to Thailandâs Central Group and Austriaâs Signa Holding, which valued Selfridgesâ at around $5 billion. He took the reins as CEO in June 2023.
At Selfridges, Keith navigated a rocky UK retail market in which rampant inflation, recurring coronavirus outbreaks and the discontinuation of tax-free shopping cut short a wave of post-pandemic enthusiasm for luxury fashion.
Keith worked to accelerate the rollout of rental and resale services at Selfridges in an appeal to price- and sustainability-conscious shoppers, as well as continuing the storeâs signature mix of high-end and accessible activations: playing host to everything from a rooftop restaurant celebrating a Riviera-themed Dior capsule to the UK launch of Skims shapewear â or, currently, a sports bar-themed activation for Champion sweatshirts.
André Maeder, CEO of parent company Selfridges Group, will take on additional responsibilities as CEO of the flagship Selfridges brand following the move. Maeder joined Selfridges Group (which also owns De Bijenkorf, Brown Thomas and Arnotts) last October after 10 years leading German department store group KaDeWe.
Learn more:
Case Study | Can Selfridges Future-Proof the Department Store?
Selfridges has attracted a bid from a potential buyer at a $5.7 billion valuation, the latest indication that the department storeâs big bet on physical retail is paying off. But after a bruising pandemic year, the British chain could struggle to rebound amid a continued collapse in international tourism and a shift to online sales.
